Engine: Kickdown hookup trouble, 1966 with 4 barrel

[EricHarnett]

Hey, I installed an edlebrock intake and carb yesterday on my 1966 Cruiser, but the kickdown cable wont reach the linkage on the carb, also the cable is pushed in to activate the kickdown on the flightomatic instead of being pulled out like every car I've ever worked on, any sugestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Eric

[bige]

Is it a cable or a rod?

ErnieR

[DEEPNHOCK]

If you switched from a 2bbl to a 4bbl carb the throttle shaft on the 4bbl is almost an inch forward of where the 2bbl throttle shaft is.
You will need to extend your rod/cable to adjust for the shaft placement.
HTIH
Jeff

Hey, I installed an edlebrock intake and carb yesterday on my 1966 Cruiser, but the kickdown cable wont reach the linkage on the carb, also the cable is pushed in to activate the kickdown on the flightomatic instead of being pulled out like every car I've ever worked on, any sugestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Eric

[(S)]

That cable is not really the kickdown, it is very sensitive, and is the throttle pressure to the trans. Damage will result, if you do not set it up per the shop manual. There were no 4 barrels in 65-66 so in your case the instructions are a 'guide' ONLY!

[64V-K7]

A) Isn't the 66 still supposed to be using the Flight-O-Matic, in which case the cable IS mainly a kick down control. It does control ATV pressure, but for different reasons. A GM trans ATV controls the pressure applied to upshifts mainly, which is why it's sensitive and has to be adjusted very correctly. The FOM control rod regulates upshift pressures, but the trans is so bullet-proof, you don't need to worry that much about them.
B) The Edelbrock carb linkage is not designed for GM ATV throttle connections, as the geometry is wrong. If it's not a F-O-M, then I don't know what trans you have, but there's an outfit called Bowtie Overdrive, who can help you adapt that carb to any GM trans...

[EricHarnett]

It is a Flight-O-Matic, and I'm not swaping it out for a GM trans, this car is going to Southbend in 2 weeks, I need it to work, Ive driven it once and the upshifts were terrible, slipping into gear, then coming to a stop all of a sudden it hammers back into second gear, but I moved the cable in so it can be pulled out and pushed in the same amount and everything works fine except the kickdown, so its really slugish, I havent been able to find any kind of extension to work with the cable to get it to the throttle lever on the side of the carb, all I used for the throttle linkage was the stock one, flipped it over and it fit perfectly in the carb and the rod from the pedal.

Thanks for all the responses

[bige]

I would start by seeing where the cable would end up fully extended, assuming that position would get a downshift and then where it would be completely retracted. The beauty of the Edelbrock are all the holes in the linkage to play with. You might be able to fab a plate that bolts to the linkage and put a hole in it for the cable that will give you the full travel you need.

You might get lucky and find that the 700R4 linkage adapter might work.

ErnieR